Let's Just Leave the Clock Setting Alone

https://www.timeanddate.com/news/time/usa-canada-start-dst-2021.htm

 Daylight Saving happened on March 14^th this year.  Oh, joy.  After a month and a half of not being able to drive to the church in the morning there finally came a time that I could leave the house at 7:10 and then gradually at 7:00.  For about a month after Christmas I had left the house at the very time that seminary got out before Jenna’s instructor volunteered to bring her home until it was light enough for me to see.

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The first week before spring break was too dark for my eyes – but I didn’t have to go to the church until this week as the six youth were in quarantine the week before spring break started.  Thankfully, after the youth returned to their normal routine it has been light enough to leave the house by seven.  That gives me an extra ten minutes to drive around the creek instead of crossing over the bridge that leads to downtown.  I prefer going around the river as I will encounter only one school bus – if that.  I don’t want to leave too early because I then have to stop each time it does. 

As a youth it felt like we set our clocks according to General Conference which gave us six months of daylight and six months of standard.  But now they have it set at the second week in March and the first week of November which gives us roughly eight months of daylight and four months of standard.  So why not just get rid of standard?  What is the point of changing the clock for just four months?  Seems like there are many more inconveniences associated with clock setting than not.  Let’s just keep the clock where it is and not have to reset in November. 

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/advice/a21905/adjusting-daylight-saving-time/

My Ignorant Friends

          There are so many creative posts to facebook lately, and just as many that are hurtful such as warnings to NOT buy products from the Chinese.  Really?  Someone has the odyssey to promote bigotry during these trying times.  I would think the citizens of China have even less to say about their government than do US citizens.  Though there are Trump supporters and followers many Americans are just as offended by his lack of leadership skills or lack of compassion as perhaps citizens of other countries are ashamed.  In China it is against the law to cross the government whereas in the USA citizens have the right to voice their opinions and even criticize the government without being arrested.  This pandemic is not the fault of the Chinese citizens.  They are victims just as much as anybody.  They did not choose to become guinea pigs of some governmental experience anymore than soldiers of this country when fighting in Vietnam chose to become victims to agent orange from 1962 to 1971. 

          People make mistakes.  Leaders make mistakes.  It happens.  As of now we are not or should not pit country against country.  We are not against one another (as a whole – I know Trump has said many things that have offended those outside of the U.S.  But trust me, he has offended just as many American citizens with his sometimes childish but mostly idiotic behavior) as we are all fighting the same demon regardless of where it originated.  Let’s not throw bigotry into the mix as well. 

          I have some friends who live in fear as well as isolation .  I have other friends who are skeptics and view this entire pandemic as a hoax staged for an upcoming election.  There is so much out there – some truths, others misinterpretations of the truth, still others that are bold faced lies.  I don’t even know what to believe anymore and may think of this as a hoax myself except for the church’s involvement.

          When else in history has the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or any other denomination) closed its doors?  The church had announced the cancellation of all meetings before the government did.  They have closed the temples.  Seamstresses who worked on temple clothes have been asked to sew masks.  Other organizations have put their teams to work for sewing masks.  Even when the leaders are fooled into thinking the pandemic is over, it won’t be over.  If we’re not careful it will sneak upon us and perhaps become worse for it is than it is right now.

          Let us not cast blame.  Blame doesn’t solve anything.  We need to be cautious of the disease not necessarily one another.  We need each other’s support not prejudices.  We are in this together.  Let us remember the children of Israel who made it out of darkness after the first Passover.  Let us remember the citizens of Jerusalem and around the world who came out of darkness after the first Easter’s resurrection.  We too will come out of darkness.  But we have to lift one another into the light.  If we point fingers or cast stones at one another, it will only prolong the darkness.

March Skies

Monday morning the sky

was white as though the

fog had been lifted up and

covered any trace of blue

I was surprised at how light

was the view for I could

see to drive at 6:15 in

the morning. 

Sometimes it is still

too dark at 7:00 and

so I was surprised.

I did get a brief glimpse of

the sun as it tried to peak

through the whiteness –

shining orange beams in

the east but only temporarily.

It remained white and light for

about 12 hours.

At 6:15 p.m. the sky had

started to darken.

On Tuesday the skies were

blue and only one hill had

clouded fog surrounding.

By noon the sun was shining.

Yesterday the skies were

white again.

Right now it is just after

6:00 am.  The sky appears to
be blue.  The earth is 
surrounded by fog.

It is too dark

for me to see.

What gives?

There is Light

I once had an institute instructor who, after every conference, would ask the class members what we thought the theme of conference is/was.  I think this year’s theme is on listening to the guidance of the Holy Ghost and finding the light to overcome darkness – or help others to find light.

Light has so many meanings.  It is symbolic for overcoming a bad experience or finally understanding something that wasn’t understood before.

Light is illustrated through light bulbs, candles, lamps, Christmas lights, lighthouses.  Those kinds of lights are artificial.  The sun is a source of natural light.  The Son is a representation of light for us to follow. Other than leading us out of darkness, He can also lighten our burdens. 

Light can mean the opposite of dark. It can also mean the opposite of heavy.

I wear lighter clothes in the summer than in the winter.

The snow in the dessert is lighter than the snow on the coast (when there is snow on the coast).

Some breads use lighter grains than others.

I am a light sleeper

We have seen more light rains than heavy downpours.

Sometimes I’ll eat a light snack or a light meal.

I prefer a light breeze to a powerful wind.

The weight of my hair feels so light after I get a haircut.

I can lighten my hair or the color of my clothes.

I enjoy watching the light grow outside in the morning.

Myrtle Creek has only two traffic lights.

I can light birthday candles.

Sometimes strobe lights will give me headaches.

We all need exposure to the natural light.

I take comfort in light.

I take comfort in His Light.

I hope His Light shines within me that I may have a positive influence over others.

Once Upon a Time spoilers and metaphors

            For those who enjoy watching the abc series "Once Upon a Time" and have not yet seen season seven, you may want to return to this post later as I am about to reveal many spoilers. Thus far season 7 is actually my favorite.  I must admit that I did quite a bit of skipping around with seasons 3-6, reading the synopsis of each episode.  Season 7 has peaked my curiosity.  I also like the story of Cinderella better than the entire Snow White ordeal.  I also like looking at fairytales from other perspectives.

            Season Seven starts out with Henry saying good-bye to Regina.  He tosses a magic bean onto the ground and drives his motorcycle through the portal into the enchanted forest. Next thing we see, Henry is a grown man.  He has his adventures and chooses to live in the enchanted forest - for at least a decade, I assume.  Another curse is placed upon the land, but instead of Storybrook, MA, the fairytale characters are transformed into Hyperion Heights, WA. 

             Instead of the boy Henry's persistence on labeling his mother's Regina, the Evil Queen and Emma, the Savior, the leading characters are Jacinda (Cinderella), Lucy (the daughter who believes the fairytales that Henry now writes) and Henry (who has forgotten his other life).  Only four of the original cast now live in Hyperion Heights:  Regina (Roni) and Rumplestiltskin (Weaver) from season one, Hook (Rogers) from season two and Zelena (Kelly) from season three - and Zelena is living in San Francisco for the first 7 episodes and so we don't even see her until episode 7 or 8.  Aside from those four, the cast of characters are new to season seven.

            I remember having always liked fairy tales and have enjoyed twisted versions and mixing of characters (such as Into The Woods).  I think it's fun to get a new perspective on what might have possibly made a fairytale villain become that or see the roles reversed (as within Disney's Maleficent). In abc's Once Upon a Time we have the opportunity of seeing many hearts harden and many harden hearts turn to the light.  Roland had once asked what it is I like about the show.  I don't guess that it is much different from his comic books or comic book movies where there are also heroes and villains.  

            As a youth I think the things I enjoyed most about fairytales was being able to decipher who was the hero and who was the villain.  Growing up has changed that somehow, because we don't always know.  It isn't always so obviously spelled out for us.   We don't always know what is trickery and magic or even intent.  We turn to both light and darkness searching for answers or solutions to fix our problems.  We may steal from another who can afford to be stolen from - or at least that is how we rationalize it in our minds.  We're coaxed into trying things like drugs or alcohol to make ourselves feel better. Or perhaps we have seen some fall into gambling because there's a slight chance that we could double or triple money  in order to pay the bills just to make ends meet.  But dark choices often lead to addictions - not happiness.  Dark choices come with a price - not just to the person making the choices, but those closest to the one choosing or being controlled by the dark ones.

            In one episode we see a young mother picking vegetables from a garden that isn't hers.  The witch who owns the garden finds the young mother picking radishes instead of magic beans which she finds odd.  The woman apologizes and explains that she is in need of food for her family and "will do anything to keep them safe and happy" at which point the witch locks the mother (Repunzel) in a tower.  Repunzel yells out for someone to help her.  Six years pass before she is able to make her escape by cutting off her hair and use it as a rope to get down.  Repunzel Tremaine learns of her family's whereabouts and learns her husband has remarried but does allow visitation rights for her to spend time with her two daughters, Anastasia and Drizilla. 

            Anastasia is thrilled.  From the moment her mother had disappeared she had been sending lanterns into the sky as a sign to come home.  Lady Tremaine is treated differently by each of her daughters.  Drizilla does not remember her mother as well as Anastasia and has accepted Ella's biological mother as her own.  Out of resentment, Lady Tremaine kills Ella's mother in order to have her family back.  Her hatred towards Ella happens later when the three girls are skating on the ice.  Just before Anastasia falls through the ice, Ella walks out to save her but they both end up falling through. Mr. Tremaine can only save one of the girls and returns to the surface with Ella.  Anastasia ends up dying.  Repunzel Tremaine becomes wicked not just to Ella but Drizilla as well.

            We all live in Storybook at one time or another.  We have all dealt with pain and darkness, and know those who seek comfort in the light.  We allow our hearts to change based upon our emotions, financial circumstances, and other situations.  We fluctuate between light and darkness searching for answers.  There are times when we get off course and ask the wrong person or seek others approval when what we really need to do is "look up and find the answers" (quote comes from Alice - who also seems to share characteristics with a mad hatter's personality as well).

            Looking "up" could be a metaphor of prayer or turning to God for the answers.  This often requires more endurance than does the dark side in which the darkness happens so subtly, it's hard to pinpoint when the darkness started (for me anyway) whereas the light seems to transform one's heart right away.  A powerful brightness that makes the darkness disappear.  If it could only be that way always.  None of us is perfect.  We all have choices to make.  We all have burdens to carry.  We don't have to carry these burdens alone.  We may have good days when we are looked at as heroes and bad days where others may see us as villains.  May we always seek the light that will make us shine.